Ranju Sarkar And Raghavendra Kamath

Stories by Ranju Sarkar And Raghavendra Kamath

Realty market fall: Developers find JVs attractive

Realty market fall: Developers find JVs attractive

Rediff.com   19 May 2009

Developers who are launching new projects are opting for this route, as they need not pay the entire amount in one lot and owners need not forego the potential rise in value. As much as 70 per cent of land deals in the country take place through this model now, against 40-45 per cent a couple of years earlier, say property consultants.

Credit flow to real estate eases

Credit flow to real estate eases

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Developers such as DLF, Unitech and Orbit are in the process of raising around Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) in the current fiscal after they rolled over nearly Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) debt subsequent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowing banks to restructure loans to developers.

Meet the man behind Tatas' nano housing plan

Meet the man behind Tatas' nano housing plan

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

Jamshedpur gave birth to Telco (now Tata Motors) which has just launched the low-cost Nano; Jamshedpur, according to the 35-year old Tata Housing Development Company managing director Brotin Banerjee, is what inspired Tata Housing to launch its Shubh Griha low-cost housing project in Mumbai.

Tata Housing eyes Rs 700 cr from low-cost projects

Tata Housing eyes Rs 700 cr from low-cost projects

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

Tata Housing Development Company, a unit of Tata Sons, expects to earn Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) in revenue from low-cost housing in the next four years, a top company official has said.

Peninsula defers hospitality, new ventures to save

Peninsula defers hospitality, new ventures to save

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

In May last year, Peninsula forayed into the hospitality sector with a joint venture with textile maker and real estate developer, Arrow Webtex. The JV planned to build hotels in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. There were also plans to develop hotels in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Mundra port, Goa and Kerala.

Working capital loans still pinch cos

Working capital loans still pinch cos

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

The Reserve Bank of India has cut the repo rate (at which it lends to the banks) by 525 basis points to 4.75 per cent from the pre-credit crunch level. Yet, companies continue to borrow much of their working capital at 12.25 per cent, which is State Bank of India's prime lending rate and a sort of benchmark. Nearly three-fourths of all working capital loans like cash credit and overdraft are lent at bank's prevailing PLR.

Parle-G, the price warrior

Parle-G, the price warrior

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Parle-G enjoys close to 70% market share in the glucose biscuit segment and has held its price line for 25 years now. Ranju Sarkar explains how.

DLF targets Rs 55 billion from asset sale

DLF targets Rs 55 billion from asset sale

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

In addition, it is banking on Rs 20 billion of additional inflows from group company DLF Assets. The move follows 33 per cent growth in DLF's gross debt to Rs 163.58 billion at the end of March 2009 from Rs 122.77 billion a year ago. In addition, DLF's revenues fell 28 per cent to Rs 105.41 billion as home buyers deferred purchases and it offered discounts to lure buyers. As a result, its revenues were hit to the tune of Rs 6.88 billion.

Confusion reigns over Sebi's peer review mandate

Confusion reigns over Sebi's peer review mandate

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

The compulsory peer reviews of auditors' notes for Sensex and Nifty companies for Q3 results of the last fiscal and full-year results of 2007-08 have proved a virtual non-starter, owing to confusion over its scope and the appointment of auditors.

Store 99 plans six-fold increase in outlets

Store 99 plans six-fold increase in outlets

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

Store 99, which sells apparels, accessories, cutlery and other items for Rs 99 or below in its 14 stores in North India, is buying merchandise from firms that went into liquidation in the US and Europe to keep prices low, said Shiraz M Javed, a director of the group.

Aditya Birla Nuvo plans 150 new stores

Aditya Birla Nuvo plans 150 new stores

Rediff.com   1 May 2009

It will also close 30 unviable stores. The company's move comes after its net loss widened to Rs 141.2 crore in the March-ended quarter, owing to mounting losses in apparels. The loss was Rs 82.2 crore in the apparel business, against a loss of Rs 4.44 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Why independent directors are quitting in droves

Why independent directors are quitting in droves

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

More than 500 independent directors have resigned since January 1 this year.

India prepares for shift to gas-based economy

India prepares for shift to gas-based economy

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

In a few years, households receiving piped gas at home can use a fuel cell unit to produce power and heat, which can also be used to chill homes during summer.

Home buyers still wary

Home buyers still wary

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.

Home buyers wary, bankers uncertain

Home buyers wary, bankers uncertain

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

Developers remain cautious on property deals as customers expect further price cuts.

SC tax reprieve to firms on forex losses

SC tax reprieve to firms on forex losses

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2009

The SC's dismissal of the Income-Tax department's plea that companies cannot claim deductions against tax liabilities on account of losses due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations legitimises the way companies were accounting for these forex losses.

Auto financiers may loosen fists

Auto financiers may loosen fists

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2009

Auto financiers, which had tightened lending norms in the face of rising defaults last year, may loosen their fists in the wake of the Calcutta high court's order of Wednesday, reaffirming the lender's right to seize vehicles if customers stop repaying loans.

DLF's retail arm plans 500 luxury lifestyle stores

DLF's retail arm plans 500 luxury lifestyle stores

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2009

Already partnering seven international brands such as Giorgio Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo, it also plans to tie up with 12-15 global brands in the next five years. The company plans to fund its expansion through a mix of equity and debt and go in for tie-ups through joint ventures and franchise routes. The focus of expansion would be in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai in the initial phase, the official said.

Retailers put cash & carry on backburner

Retailers put cash & carry on backburner

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2009

Indian retailers put cash & carry on backburner

DLF to book Rs 2,000 crore from group firm by Apri

DLF to book Rs 2,000 crore from group firm by Apri

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2009

The company has already booked Rs 5,450 crore (Rs 54.5 billion) revenue from sale of 5 million sq ft it has sold to DAL. DLF on Tuesday clarified to the exchanges that it had been looking at various options from time to time but no definite option had been presented to the board so far for its consideration.